AngelsWin.com

By @CartiHalos, AngelsWin.com Columnist With pitchers and catchers having reported, I like to think of the 2024 season as officially underway. While the angels won't play a game for another 9 days, the wheels of baseball are finally churning and as such, I'd like to give my predictions for the Angels and their players. While I'm not the most optimistic person in the world for this specific season, I think it's another season of Angels baseball and I'll never be too mad at getting to watch my Halos. Starting with team predictions... Record: 75-87, 4th in AL West As much as I wanted to put us as a sneaky 80-85 win team, it's not realistic for a team that only won 73 games last year and lost the MVP. While there's plenty of reason's to assume we'll be better than last year - primarily the ridiculously bad injury luck in 2023, the return of Trout/Rendon, and the further development of the young core of O'Hoppe/Schanuel/Neto/Moniak. Add on top of all of that Ron Washington taking the helm and I could see us propelled into the 80 win area. However, I think that an already faltering rotation that lost it's ace and an offense that would have to make a big jump to be elite makes it hard to project us in that range. Miguel Sano Cracks the Opening Day Roster: For a while I thought we'd pick up Urshela or another infielder that could cover first if Schanuel has some growing pains. While still possible, I think we end up rolling with what we have and the slugger has an impressive spring, leading to a Opening Day Roster spot and *maybe* even an opening day start at DH. We Enter 2025 MUCH more confident: While this isn't exactly a hot take, this prediction is mostly that we have multiple major breakouts (you'll see who I think does in the next section), and the moves we made this offseason are supplemented well by moves next offseason that make our roster far more complete and make the Angels a competitive team next year. Now onto individual player predictions, with a few stipulations - I'm gonna be *mostly* optimistic, it's more fun that way. - I'm predicting for the 26 players on the Opening Day Roster, projected by me. - There's a good chance that a team that performed to my predictions would win more than 75 games, but I'm trying to predict each player, optimistically, in a vacuum. - No Injuries. Don't want to speak anything into existence. Catchers: C Logan O'Hoppe - .245 AVG, 31 HR, 74 RBI, 122 wRC+, 2.4 fWar O'Hoppe puts his name out there in a big way with a 30 homer season and improves defensively, but his plate discipline and framing are still areas for improvement. C Matt Thaiss - .220 AVG, 7 HR, 24 RBI, 93 wRC+, 0.1 fWAR Thaiss gets less time to shine than hid did last year, but performs about the same in limited opportunity. Infielders: 1B Nolan Schanuel - .278 AVG, 16 HR, 55 RBI, 130 wRC+, 2.1 fWAR Schanuel's elite eye shines and his power comes through as he proves why he got called up so quickly. 1B Miguel Sano - .208 AVG, 5 HR, 13 RBI, 101 wRC+, 0.0 fWAR Sano shows off his pop in limited time, but is ultimately a non factor. 1B/2B/3B Brandon Drury - .258 AVG, 25 HR, 89 RBI, 110 wRC+, 2.4 fWAR Drury builds on his impressive 2022 and 2023 and maybe even gets moved to a contender at the deadline. SS Zach Neto - .250 AVG, 20 HR, 58 RBI, 105 wRC+ 2.7 fWAR Neto makes a big jump from last year, and poises himself for a monster age-24 breakout 2025. 3B Anthony Rendon - .252 AVG, 17 HR, 74 RBI, 115 wRC+, 2.9 fWAR This may come as a shock, but truthfully the last time Rendon was healthy and not absolutely outstanding was 2015. Assuming he isn't missing time, he could still very well put in some work for us. 2B/SS/3B Luis Rengifo - .243 AVG, 16 HR, 55 RBI, 98 wRC+, 1.4 fWAR Rengifo's struggles against righties catches up to him, but he still provides value defensively through his versatility. Outfielders: LF Taylor Ward - .271 AVG, 19 HR, 68 RBI, 120 wRC+, 3.0 fWAR I'm predicting a huge return to form for Ward, after an outstanding 2022 and a 2023 that was solid before being cut short by an Alek Manoah fastball, I think he bounces back big in an offense that needs him to badly. CF Mike Trout - .268 AVG, 38 HR, 103 RBI, 157 wRC+, 5.5 fWAR Mike Trout reminds everyone who he is and why he's the superstar in Anaheim with a monster season, aided partially by the DH position being opened up for him to rest and avoid injury. RF Mickey Moniak - .262 AVG, 18 HR, 59 RBI, 106 wRC+ 1.3 fWAR Mickey comes down to earth compared to his electric 2023 first half, but superb defense and good hard hit stats make for another solid season. OF Aaron Hicks - .270 AVG, 6 HR, 30 RBI, 103 wRC+, 0.3 fWAR Hicks offensive stats are boosted because he'll get a lot of chances against lefties, but he still doesn't get enough opportunity to make a major impact. OF Jo Adell - .225 AVG, 12 HR, 34 RBI, 94 wRC+, 0.2 fWAR Adell gets some big hits, but his plate discipline struggles and inconsistency still bleed through. Starting Pitchers: LHP Reid Detmers - 167 IP, 116 ERA+, 181 K, 3.78 FIP, 3.5 fWAR Detmers shines in a 5 man rotation, cuts back on mistake pitches en route to a career year. RHP Griffin Canning - 145.2 IP, 103 ERA+, 166 K, 4.24 FIP, 2.0 fWAR Canning nearly replicates his 2023 but at a higher volume. LHP Patrick Sandoval - 135 IP, 108 ERA+, 141 K, 3.92 FIP, 2.7 fWAR Sandy struggles a bit with his emotions on the mound, but a nice return to the solid #2/3 form we've seen in years past. LHP Tyler Anderson - 111 IP, 96 ERA+, 124 K, 4.60 FIP, 1.3 fWAR Anderson's struggles continue, but he still comes close to a league average season. RHP Chase Silseth - 155 IP, 127 ERA+, 166 K, 3.75 FIP, 4.4 fWAR Silseth is my top Angels breakout this year, proving he has real ability to not only be a starter, but a great one at that. Bullpen: Carlos Estevez - 4.20 ERA, 3.90 FIP, 26 Saves. Robert Stephenson - 2.13 ERA, 1.93 FIP, 10 Saves. Matt Moore - 2.99 ERA, 2.88 FIP, 2 Saves Jose Soriano - 3.23 ERA, 3.46 FIP Luis Garcia - 4.66 ERA, 4.74 FIP Adam Cimber - 3.63 ERA, 3.80 FIP Jose Cisnero - 4.44 ERA, 4.23 FIP Jose Suarez - 3.79 ERA, 4.21 FIP The bullpen gets a review as a whole, should be the most improved position group, with the new additions pulling their weight and the returners (for the most part) improving. Could see Estevez, Moore, Garcia, Cimber, and Suarez all getting looks from contenders at the deadline. To be completely honest, while this is probably the least optimistic I've been at the start of a season in a while, I like this teams core and I can't wait to watch the new additions get to work. Can't wait for another season of Angels baseball! Go Halos!

TEMPE, Ariz. — Reid Detmers is hoping to smooth out the rollercoaster that the first years of his career have been. The Angels’ 24-year-old lefty has started 53 games over the last two seasons, at times looking like one of the Angels best pitchers and at other times looking like one of the worst. “Consistency is a huge part of this game, which is what I’ve been lacking over the last few years,” Detmers said on Thursday. “I would fall into a rut and not know how to get out of it.” Detmers said he worked over the winter at refining his mechanics, and he finally has an idea of what he needs to do to fix his delivery when it goes awry. “I learned a lot about my mechanics,” he said. “When I get off track, I know how to get back on track.” So far there’s been plenty of both for Detmers, who was the Angels’ first-round pick in 2020 and made his debut with a five-game cameo in 2021. Detmers pitched a no-hitter on May 10, 2022, and he posted a 2.63 ERA over a five-start stretch. After that he was so bad for a month that he was dispatched to Triple-A for one game. He tweaked his slider and returned to the majors, pitching to a 3.04 ERA over his final 13 starts. That finish was so encouraging that many predicted Detmers for a breakout season in 2023, particularly because his offseason work had upped his velocity. Detmers said last spring his goal was to win 20 games. He won four, with a 4.48 ERA. Detmers now believes that his slider was actually too hard, touching the low 90s instead of the mid 80s. He had a 5.27 ERA when he made some more changes to his slider, allowing him to finish with a 2.41 ERA over his final seven starts. During the strong finish, Detmers was actually throwing two sliders, a harder one and a softer one. Although at the time he said he enjoyed the flexibility of having two pitches, he now admits that wasn’t really the plan. “It wasn’t meant to be two sliders,” he said. “The slider just did not feel good coming out of the hand. I didn’t know what it was going to do.” Now, Detmers said he’s just got one slider, and it’s somewhere in between the hard and soft ones he was throwing at the end of last season. He also said he’s been encouraged by the improvement of his changeup, to go along with his fastball and curve. How all of that shakes out remains to be seen. Detmers clearly has the talent to be a frontline starter, but so far he hasn’t strung together enough consistency to do it. He is optimistic but said he’s not making any predictions about the numbers. “I’m not going to put any standard on my performance,” he said. “I’ll leave it up to the gallery. I think I can be as good as anybody. It’s all about confidence, and I don’t lack any confidence.” BACHMAN UPDATE Right-hander Sam Bachman, who had arthroscopic shoulder surgery last fall, said he won’t be ready for Opening Day. Bachman said he has “hit all my milestones” in recovery from the surgery, but nonetheless the Angels are going to take it slow. “Based on where we’re at right now, we’re just keeping it a week at a time and being smart,” Bachman said. “I don’t think it would be smart, or logical to be ready for the first month this season and you know, have a hiccup along the way.” The Angels’ first-round pick in 2021, Bachman reached the majors as a reliever last season. He had a 3.18 ERA in 17 innings before suffering a shoulder injury that cost him the last three months. Bachman is currently penciled in to be minor league rotation depth. He said he appreciates a return to starting, after working in relief last season. “That’s been my dream,” he said. “That’s what I’m designed to do. I’m super excited to do that again.” Related Articles Los Angeles Angels | Angels owner Arte Moreno says he’s around ‘for the long term’ Los Angeles Angels | Angels players feel ‘really good vibes’ as spring training begins Los Angeles Angels | Angels hope to overcome loss of Shohei Ohtani with internal improvements Los Angeles Angels | Angels 2024 spring training preview: 5 key questions Los Angeles Angels | Angels 2024 spring training preview: Who’s in and who’s out? NOTES Left-hander Drew Pomeranz, who is in camp on a minor league deal, said he is “full go,” in his effort to return to the majors for the first time since 2021. Pomeranz had elbow surgery that August and had dealt with several setbacks since. “Pushing from bullpens to game speed is where I had real trouble,” Pomeranz said. “I kept getting reinjured and reinjured. It’s pretty frustrating trying to figure out what’s going on… I feel good right now, probably the same point I would have in any spring training coming in.” … Manager Ron Washington said right-hander Zach Plesac will open the spring as a candidate for the rotation. Plesac, however, could still wind up in the bullpen or even the minors. The top five Angels starters heading into camp are left-handers Patrick Sandoval, Tyler Anderson and Detmers and right-handers Griffin Canning and Chase Silseth. … Major league baseball is emphasizing obstruction rules this season in an effort to keep infielders from blocking bases. Washington said it’s a good change. “I’m glad they’ve taken some steps to correct it,” Washington said. “Too many times these middle infielders are blocking the base, so I’m glad they’re doing it. It won’t be that much of an adjustment for middle infielders. Before we started this trickery stuff, they were doing it the right way. So they just gotta go back to doing it the right way.” View the full article

TEMPE, Ariz. — Arte Moreno has no regrets about the change of heart that led him to pull the Angels off the market 13 months ago. The Angels owner said Wednesday that he has no plans to revisit a sale of the team that he’s operated since 2003. “I am here long term,” Moreno said in an interview with the Southern California News Group. “There are some people that came back and some people that knew I had it on the market (in 2022). I basically said it’s not on the market.” Moreno added that it was always possible that someone would come back and make an offer that he couldn’t refuse. “I’m a business person,” he said. “If someone gets really stupid, then you have to go.” Moreno said a year ago that he had turned down offers, including three that surpassed the $2.4 billion that Steve Cohen paid for the New York Mets. One of the offers was reportedly over $3 billion. Moreno, 77, paid $183.5 million to buy the Angels more than two decades ago. Although his ownership was a success initially, with the Angels annually contending and selling more than 3 million tickets per season, the franchise has been struggling on the field lately. Despite the presence of two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout, the Angels haven’t had a winning season since 2015 and they haven’t made the playoffs since 2014. Ohtani signed a heavily deferred 10-year, $700-million deal with the Dodgers over the winter, ending his six-year run with the Angels. When asked if the Angels were willing to meet that price, Moreno said: “No.” Moreno, however, would not say whether he believed the Angels had a chance to keep Ohtani at the various points when they made the decision not to trade him. The Angels could have traded Ohtani at the 2022 trade deadline, during the following offseason, or at the 2023 deadline. “From a fan perspective, they pay for tickets and watch the games and listen to the games, this is a special guy,” Moreno said. “I’d like to see him play. We’re in the entertainment business. We made a decision, a group decision, that the best thing was to keep him and make a run.” The Angels played better through late July last summer and were as close as three games from a playoff spot when they decided to add several players — bringing the projected payroll above the luxury tax threshold — in an effort to make the postseason. Instead, they started August by losing seven games in a row, and by the end of the month they were out of the race. The Angels then placed seven players on waivers in an effort to get back under the threshold, eventually finishing less than $30,000 below the $233 million threshold. This winter, with Ohtani gone, they have not even approached last year’s payroll. According to FanGraphs, the Angels are currently set to have a payroll of about $188 million, for purposes of the luxury tax. Moreno said the plan was to “set the budget lower. … I’m not going to spend money just to show that we’re going to spend money unless it’s going to substantially change the team.” Moreno said he’s encouraged by the potential of young players like catcher Logan O’Hoppe, shortstop Zach Neto, first baseman Nolan Schanuel. “I am in it because I believe we can build a team to win,” he said. Moreno also addressed the failed attempts to reach a development deal with the city of Anaheim regarding Angel Stadium. In 2022, the Angels had a plan to purchase the ballpark from the city in exchange for the right to develop the surrounding area. The agreement fell through when Anaheim mayor Harry Sidhu became embroiled in a corruption scandal. Related Articles Los Angeles Angels | Angels players feel ‘really good vibes’ as spring training begins Los Angeles Angels | Angels hope to overcome loss of Shohei Ohtani with internal improvements Los Angeles Angels | Angels 2024 spring training preview: 5 key questions Los Angeles Angels | Angels 2024 spring training preview: Who’s in and who’s out? Los Angeles Angels | Angels 2024 spring training preview: Key dates Now, Moreno said there are no current talks about reviving that deal, with no expectation that it would be revisited. “Right now I’d say no,” Moreno said. “I don’t like the word never. Right now I don’t believe (Anaheim officials) have an appetite for it.” The Angels currently have a lease through 2029 at Angel Stadium, with three-year options that run through 2038. Asked if he can forecast what will happen then, Moreno said: “Do you know where you’re going to be in 2038? Do you know how old I am? This year I’ll be 78. That’s a long time.” The Angels are, however, proceeding with plans to make upgrades to their spring training home in Tempe. Moreno said the practice fields and training facilities will undergo renovations starting at the end of this spring. Improvements to Tempe Diablo Stadium could begin next year, to be completed in time for spring training 2026, Moreno said. View the full article

TEMPE, Ariz. — Angels players – not just pitchers and catchers – were scattered across practice fields, bullpen mounds and batting cages Tuesday afternoon. All of that would have been totally routine for spring training, except it was actually a day before the first “official” workout of the spring. Normally on “reporting day,” players have their physicals and a few stragglers might play catch in shorts and T-shirts, but the fields are largely vacant. “Physical day is always the worst because you’re home at 11 and have nothing to do for the rest of the day,” catcher Logan O’Hoppe said after catching bullpen sessions and hitting. “It’s nice to have a workout today. We’re all hitting the ground running.” O’Hoppe had a broad smile on his face as he described the “completely different feel” around Angels camp as they begin the 2024 season. Left-hander Patrick Sandoval agreed it felt like the start of something new. “I’ve been on here for about a month and there’s been a lot of guys coming in,” Sandoval said. “The vibes here are really good. The guys are ready to work. I think the just the overall vibe around the guys of getting our work in is a little bit different this year for some reason.” One obvious difference is that the Angels no longer have Shohei Ohtani. Certainly, no one would suggest that losing the most talented player in the majors is a positive change on the field, but the lack of the spotlight that followed Ohtani no doubt changes the atmosphere around the team. There were just three reporters at Tuesday’s workout, instead of 50. The expectations from outside are minimal, which is just fine with the players, who are still full of confidence and looking to prove they are better than last year’s 73-victory disappointment. “I definitely still have that bad taste in my mouth from last year,” O’Hoppe said. “None of us forgot what that was like. We all talked a lot over the offseason. We put a plan in place to change it going forward. Even though today is Day One, I feel like we’ve been doing it for weeks, just keeping in touch with one another and talking about the right things. It’s on the right track.” New manager Ron Washington, who is known for his energy and optimism, beamed as he described what’s ahead. “It always feels good when you got on the baseball uniform when you’re a baseball lifer,” Washington said. “It’s even more fun when you begin getting a chance to be a part of something that can turn out to be very special. And this can turn out to be very special.” Reality will hit soon enough, though. The Angels are going to do more than smile and say optimistic things for them to win baseball games. It’s going to start with the pitching, and that story took some shape Tuesday with Washington’s declaration that his plan going into the spring was to use a five-man rotation. “We haven’t done any competing yet to make a decision like that,” Washington said, “but right off the bat I’ll say five.” The Angels had used a six-man rotation when Ohtani was one of the starters. “Super excited, honestly,” Sandoval said of the increased work for the starters. “It adds four or five more starts at the end of the year. Perfect. I want to be on the field as much as I can to help this team win as much as I can. The top five starters currently are Sandoval, left-handers Reid Detmers and Tyler Anderson and right-handers Griffin Canning and Chase Silseth. Right-handers Zach Plesac and Davis Daniel and left-handers José Suarez and Kenny Rosenberg are the top candidates for the rotation outside of those five. Washington also said he’s hoping a firm lineup develops, instead of mixing and matching around the field. “I don’t foresee my lineup changing every day,” Washington said. “In some areas you might have something, but I’m not gonna have a team where we’ve got 80 or 90 lineups within the season.” Washington said he is prepared to rotate players through the designated hitter spot – again, something they couldn’t do with Ohtani. Washington also said the Angels are opening the spring expecting Carlos Estévez to be the closer. Estévez was outstanding for the first half of the season in the closer role last year, before faltering late. Now, the Angels have right-hander Robert Stephenson as an option if Estévez struggles. NOTES The Angels are working on a minor-league deal with left-hander Drew Pomeranz, who last pitched in the majors in 2021. Pomeranz has been dealing with elbow issues for most of the past two seasons, throwing just 10 1/3 innings in the minors. Pomeranz has been throwing bullpen sessions. Pomeranz, 35, who will be invited to big league camp, posted a 1.75 ERA with the Padres in 2021, when he had flexor tendon surgery. … The Angels will again air almost all of their spring training games on television, either on Bally Sports West or another network when there is a conflict. On days the Angels play split-squad games, they will air the home game. Radio play-by-play announcer Terry Smith will handle simulcasts on television and radio for most games, with Wayne Randazzo, Patrick O’Neal and Trent Rush also doing some play by play in the spring. The cast of analysts will include Mark Gubicza, Bobby Valentine, Tim Salmon and Denny Hocking. Erica Weston and Rush will also contribute reports during the broadcasts. … Related Articles Los Angeles Angels | Angels hope to overcome loss of Shohei Ohtani with internal improvements Los Angeles Angels | Angels 2024 spring training preview: 5 key questions Los Angeles Angels | Angels 2024 spring training preview: Who’s in and who’s out? Los Angeles Angels | Angels 2024 spring training preview: Key dates Los Angeles Angels | Angels 2024 spring training position preview: Bullpen The Angels have hired Bob Alejo as the strength and conditioning coach. Alejo spent 12 years in a similar role with the Oakland A’s, during Washington’s tenure in Oakland. Since then, he had been working with Olympic athletes and in college sports, including at Cal State Northridge and UC Santa Barbara. Alejo already has a fan in Sandoval: “I think we’re gonna be one of the most conditioned teams in baseball, for sure.” … Right-hander Sam Bachman is also going to be on the starter depth chart, even though he pitched in relief in the majors last season. Bachman missed the end of last season with a shoulder issue, and he had an arthroscopic cleanup procedure in the fall. … Right-hander José Cisnero, who is from the Dominican Republic, will be at least a week late because of a visa issue, according to the Angels. View the full article

TEMPE, Ariz. — After years of disappointment with the failure to meet high expectations that came from having two generational players on their roster, the Angels no longer have that “burden.” Two-way megastar Shohei Ohtani is gone, having left for the Dodgers, and the Angels did nothing to replace him, either in the starting rotation or in the lineup. Center fielder Mike Trout is coming off his third straight injury-interrupted season. It’s safe to say that no one who doesn’t draw a salary from the Angels has any high expectations for this team heading into Wednesday’s first workout of spring training. Baseball Prospectus projects the Angels for 74 victories, with a 2.6% chance to make the playoffs. The major Las Vegas sports books set their over-under at 71.5. The fewest games they’ve won in any full season this century is 72, in 2019. The Angels are a comfortable pick for fourth place in the American League West, well behind the defending world champion Texas Rangers, the Houston Astros and the Seattle Mariners, and ahead of the rebuilding Oakland A’s. The Angels haven’t had a winning season since 2015, and they haven’t made the playoffs since 2014. The latter is tied with the Detroit Tigers for the longest active drought in the majors. Cynical fans would say the Angels willingly put themselves into this position by doing little this winter besides retooling the bullpen. General Manager Perry Minasian, who is in the final year of his four-year contract, made only one noteworthy trade, and it was a financial transaction. They unloaded $14 million worth of unnecessary 2024 salary – to infielder David Fletcher and catcher Max Stassi – for $7 million to first baseman Evan White, who was removed from the 40-man roster. Minasian signed major league free agents to deals totaling $52.3 million, including just $30.3 million worth of 2024 obligations. According to FanGraphs, the Angels are opening the season with a payroll, for purposes of the luxury tax, at around $188 million, which is down from the $233 million they spent in 2023. The lack of significant additions following the loss of Ohtani from a team that was 73-89 last season adds up to low expectations. Minasian, however, seems to be banking on the idea that the Angels can move forward by virtue of the players they already had being better. They’ll be working under the leadership of new manager Ron Washington, who is known for his ability to teach and instill optimism. “I think there’s some excitement, internally, when you talk to the players,” Minasian said in December. “They know that we’re talented. I know we won 73 games. I get it. You look at the record books, it’s going to say 73. It’s not going to change. I don’t believe this is a 73-win team from a talent standpoint. I think there’s more talent.” The idea isn’t merely blind faith. The Angels’ pitching staff is filled with players who were better, in some cases significantly better, as recently as 2022. As they came to camp last year, starting pitchers Patrick Sandoval (2.91 ERA in 2022), Reid Detmers (3.77) and Tyler Anderson (2.57) were all coming off above-average seasons. All three declined in 2023. Among the newcomers to the bullpen, Luis Garcia (3.39 in 2022), Adam Cimber (2.80) and José Cisnero (1.08) all had consecutive productive seasons before slipping last year. The biggest bullpen addition was right-hander Robert Stephenson, who signed a three-year, $33 million deal. He was one of baseball’s best relievers in 2023 after he altered his repertoire following a June trade to the Tampa Bay Rays. What the Rays did with Stephenson is a blueprint for the Angels, who hope that the right guidance can help the pitchers get more out of their talent than they did in 2023. That’s why the Angels revamped their pitching support system over the winter. “When you end the season, you go through a full review and reflect and you look at things you see where you are in different areas and our pitching program was something we wanted to change,” Minasian said early in the winter. At that point he was speaking about the minor league pitching changes, but the staffing since then demonstrated that the remake includes the majors. They hired a new pitching coach (Barry Enright) and a new bullpen coach (Steve Karsay). “They believe in the little things so they’re going to help our young pitching staff with the little things that they have to bring to the ballpark every single day,” Washington said of Enright and Karsay. “And it’ll lead to the big things. That’s the thing that interests me the most about them, their energy and their wisdom and their attention to taking care of detail. You have to take care of detail in the game of baseball.” The Angels brought back well-regarded former bullpen coach Dom Chiti to work in the minor leagues. They will also have several newcomers working on the analytical side, helping the pitchers with game-planning. Offensively, the Angels have essentially the same roster as last year, minus Ohtani. Perhaps having the DH spot open to be shared by multiple players will allow more rest opportunities to keep their best hitters in the lineup more often. Obviously, Trout and third baseman Anthony Rendon are the focal points. Each missed at least half of the season last year. If they don’t play more this year, the Angels will have little hope of surprising the experts by contending. Even beyond those two, though, the Angels were ravaged by injuries throughout the lineup. They played significant stretches without outfielder Taylor Ward, catcher Logan O’Hoppe, shortstop Zach Neto and second baseman Brandon Drury. The Angels are not only banking on those players being on the field more, but they would also like to see young players like outfielders Mickey Moniak and Jo Adell, first baseman Nolan Schanuel, O’Hoppe and Neto take steps forward in their performance. To that end, Washington might prove to be the most significant addition of the winter. Related Articles Los Angeles Angels | Angels 2024 spring training position preview: Bullpen Los Angeles Angels | Angels, reliever José Cisnero agree to 1-year contract Los Angeles Angels | Angels, reliever José Cisnero agree to 1-year contract Los Angeles Angels | Angels 2024 spring training position preview: Starting rotation Los Angeles Angels | Alexander: The State of SoCal Sports, 2024 … Sports Capital of the World? Washington is revered throughout baseball for the way he works with players, young and old, teaching them and holding them accountable. Former Texas Rangers general manager Jon Daniels recalled earlier this winter that he hired Washington to lead a team that “wasn’t very good” in 2006. But Washington “passed on the belief to the players that we can compete with anybody.” Washington helped turn the Rangers from an AL West doormat into a two-time pennant winner, in the process knocking the Angels from their perch atop the division. Now, he’s set his sights on reversing that. “Let’s not talk about the last five or six years when the Los Angeles Angels were struggling,” Washington said. “Let’s talk past that, when they were the team that everybody was trying to run down. That’s what I want to think about. Because we do have the personnel to go out and compete every night. We just have to learn how to sustain. We just have to learn how to be consistent, which is the game of baseball. And when we learn how to be consistent and we start sustaining, we will be past those years when they weren’t doing well.” View the full article

Here are some of the key questions the Angels hope to answer during spring training: What does Arte Moreno have to say? The Angels owner traditionally spoke to reporters on a wide range of topics near the beginning of spring training each year. Moreno abandoned that practice in 2021 and 2022, but he again answered questions in 2023. Now, there are a handful of pressing issues that fans would like to see him address, starting with whether he has plans to revisit the sale of the team after taking it off the market a year ago. Moreno can also speak to the way the Angels handled the Shohei Ohtani talks over the winter, and what he intends to do to help the team win now that Ohtani is gone. How are Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon doing? Rendon has missed at least half of the season for three years in a row, and Trout has missed significant time in each of those years too. How they look and feel in spring training won’t be entirely revealing – after all, most players show up in “the best shape of their lives” – but there could be something to make of what they did over the winter and what they say about their efforts to prevent further injuries. How will the outfield shake out? Nothing is certain other than Trout being the center fielder, and even that has some questions because of his injuries. He hasn’t played more than 125 games in the outfield since 2016. Otherwise, the Angels have Taylor Ward, Mickey Moniak, Aaron Hicks and Jo Adell all vying for playing time. Certainly, the playing time and roles will evolve throughout the season, but the performances of all of those players in spring training will establish their roles out of the gate. Moniak and Adell are both out of options, which could complicate things. If more than three of those players are hitting well enough to be in the lineup at the same time, the Angels do have the DH spot to use for one of them. Will Ward return to form? Ward deserves a question of his own, within the previous one, because of what he endured last year. Ward fractured bones in his face in a frightening incident last July, when he was hit in the face by a pitch. Ward left the field with a blood-soaked towel on his face, and he never returned to action. General Manager Perry Minasian said in December that Ward has done well and they are planning on him being the same player he was before the injury, but it will be worth watching to see how he responds to live pitching in spring training. Related Articles Los Angeles Angels | Angels 2024 spring training position preview: Bullpen Los Angeles Angels | Angels, reliever José Cisnero agree to 1-year contract Los Angeles Angels | Angels, reliever José Cisnero agree to 1-year contract Los Angeles Angels | Angels 2024 spring training position preview: Starting rotation Los Angeles Angels | Alexander: The State of SoCal Sports, 2024 … Sports Capital of the World? Are the young players ready for increased roles? Catcher Logan O’Hoppe and shortstop Zach Neto both made impressive debuts as rookies in 2023, both on and off the field, demonstrating skill and leadership. However, it’s a lot to ask players with so little experience to take on such prominent roles. Both players still have holes in their game that they will need to tighten. First baseman Nolan Schanuel and right-hander Chase Silseth also could work into prominent roles despite limited major-league experience. View the full article

As the Angels head toward their first workout of spring training on Wednesday, here’s a reminder of the roster changes that have taken place over the winter: WHO’S IN? RHP Robert Stephenson, signed as a free agent from Tampa Bay LHP Matt Moore, signed as a free agent from Miami RHP Luis Garcia, signed as a free agent from the Padres RHP Adam Cimber, signed as a free agent from Toronto RHP José Cisnero, signed as a free agent from Detroit RHP Zach Plesac, signed as a free agent from Cleveland OF Aaron Hicks, signed as a free agent from Baltimore RHP Guillermo Zuniga, acquired in a trade with St. Louis WHO’S OUT? DH Shohei Ohtani, signed as a free agent with Dodgers IF David Fletcher, traded to Atlanta C Max Stassi, traded to Atlanta and then traded to Chicago White Sox IF Gio Urshela, unsigned free agent IF C.J. Cron, unsigned free agent OF Randal Grichuk, unsigned free agent IF Mike Moustakas, unsigned free agent IF Eduardo Escobar, unsigned free agent RHP Jaime Barria, non-tendered, signed with Cleveland 1B Jared Walsh, non-tendered, signed with Texas OF Brett Phillips, signed a minor league deal with the White Sox 1B/OF Trey Cabbage, traded to Houston LHP Kolton Ingram, claimed on waivers by Detroit Related Articles Los Angeles Angels | Angels 2024 spring training position preview: Bullpen Los Angeles Angels | Angels, reliever José Cisnero agree to 1-year contract Los Angeles Angels | Angels, reliever José Cisnero agree to 1-year contract Los Angeles Angels | Angels 2024 spring training position preview: Starting rotation Los Angeles Angels | Alexander: The State of SoCal Sports, 2024 … Sports Capital of the World? NON-ROSTER INVITEES C Juan Flores C Caleb Hamilton C Zach Humphreys C Francisco Mejia C Alberto Rios C Chad Wallach 3B/OF Hunter Dozier IF/OF Cole Fontenelle IF Charles Leblanc IF Richie Martin 3B/1B Miguel Sanó 1B Evan White OF Willie Calhoun OF Jake Marisnick OF Jason Martin OF Nelson Rada RHP Caden Dana RHP Carson Fulmer RHP Joel Hurtado RHP Travis MacGregor RHP José Marte RHP Cam Minacci RHP Alan Rangel RHP Hayden Seig RHP Walbert Urena LHP Nick Jones LHP Adam Kolarek View the full article

Tuesday: Pitchers and catchers report Wednesday: First workout Feb. 18: Full squad reports Feb. 19: First full-squad workout Feb. 24: First Cactus League game vs. Dodgers at Tempe Diablo Stadium, 12:10 p.m. PT March 5: Dodgers vs. Angels, at Glendale, Ariz., 5:05 p.m. March 24: Freeway Series (exhibition), Dodgers vs. Angels at Dodger Stadium, 4:10 p.m. March 25: Freeway Series (exhibition), Dodgers vs. Angels at Dodger Stadium, 6:10 p.m. March 26: Freeway Series (exhibition), Dodgers vs. Angels at Angel Stadium, 6 p.m. March 28: Opening Day, Angels at Baltimore Orioles, 12:05 p.m. April 5: Home opener, Angels vs. Boston Red Sox, 6:38 p.m. Related Articles Los Angeles Angels | Angels 2024 spring training position preview: Bullpen Los Angeles Angels | Angels, reliever José Cisnero agree to 1-year contract Los Angeles Angels | Angels, reliever José Cisnero agree to 1-year contract Los Angeles Angels | Angels 2024 spring training position preview: Starting rotation Los Angeles Angels | Alexander: The State of SoCal Sports, 2024 … Sports Capital of the World? View the full article

Sponsored Article The history of the Los Angeles Angels is punctuated by moments of brilliance that have defined the team's journey in Major League Baseball. Each landmark achievement, from game-winning home runs to perfect games, contributes to the team's narrative, offering fans a repository of memories that underscore the team's impact on the sport. Nolan Ryan's No-Hitters (1972-1979) During his tenure with the Angels, Nolan Ryan etched his name into the annals of baseball history by throwing four no-hitters, a feat that underscores his dominance on the mound. Each performance showcased Ryan's exceptional pitching skills, contributing to his legendary status in the sport. These no-hitters remain a towering achievement within the team's lore, reflecting the extraordinary capabilities of one of baseball's greatest pitchers. 2002 World Series Championship The year 2002 stands out as a pinnacle of achievement for the Angels, culminating in the capture of their first and only World Series title. The victory was a testament to the team's resilience, skill, and determination. The "Rally Monkey" emerged as a symbol of this triumph, embodying the spirit and enthusiasm that propelled the Angels to victory. This championship moment is cherished by the team and its supporters, representing a high point in the franchise's history. Honoring Nick Adenhart (2009) In 2009, the Angels demonstrated profound unity and respect by honoring Nick Adenhart, a promising pitcher whose life was tragically cut short. The team's decision to wear his number throughout the season was a powerful gesture of commemoration and solidarity, illustrating the deep bonds within the baseball community and the respect for Adenhart's talent and potential. Mike Trout's MVP Awards Mike Trout has solidified his position as a franchise icon through his exceptional play, earning multiple MVP awards. His achievements highlight his unparalleled talent and contribution to the game, making him one of the most impactful players of his generation. Trout's accolades reflect his significance to the Angels and his influential role in the broader context of baseball. Vladimir Guerrero's MVP Season (2004) In 2004, Vladimir Guerrero's remarkable performance earned him the MVP award, spotlighting his contribution to the Angels' success. Guerrero's talent and dedication were instrumental in his standout season, further establishing his legacy in Major League Baseball and within the Angels' storied history. Albert Pujols' 500th & 600th Home Runs (2014), (2017) Albert Pujols' achievement of reaching the 500 home run milestone in 2014 is a testament to his enduring excellence and power as a hitter. This milestone not only cemented Pujols' legacy in MLB but also underscored his significant impact during his time with the Angels. Jered Weaver's No-Hitter (2012) Jered Weaver's no-hitter against the Minnesota Twins in 2012 is a highlight of the pitcher's career and a standout moment for the Angels. This performance exemplifies the high level of pitching talent that has been a part of the team's history, showcasing Weaver's skill and precision on the mound. The All-Star Game at Angel Stadium (2010) Hosting the MLB All-Star Game in 2010 brought national attention to Angel Stadium and the city of Anaheim. This event was a celebration of the sport, featuring top talent from across Major League Baseball and highlighting the Angels' role as a key player in the baseball community. Shohei Ohtani's Historic Season Shohei Ohtani's historic performance as both a pitcher and hitter has introduced a new era of versatility to the game, bringing heightened excitement and recognition to the Angels. Ohtani's unique abilities have not only made history but have also redefined what is possible in baseball, underscoring his significant impact on the team and the sport. Fan Engagement For fans looking to engage further with baseball, beyond the moments on the field, exploring sports betting can add to the involvement. Those interested can always check for reviews of the best sports betting sites, offering insights and information to enhance the baseball experience. Conclusion This journey through the Los Angeles Angels' most memorable moments reflects the profound impact these achievements have had on the franchise's history. Each milestone, from legendary performances to heartfelt tributes, underscores the legacy and enduring spirit of the Angels, celebrating the players and moments that have defined their journey through baseball history. For more, check out AngelsWin.com's full feature Top-50 Greatest Moments in Angels Baseball feature on our blog. View the full article

By Ellen Bell, AngelsWin.com Staff Writer - No series on the Women of Angels Baseball would be complete without Jackie Autry—arguably the most influential female in franchise history. During her time with the Angels, she witnessed the team’s transformation from a small baseball business into a corporate sports franchise. She also had a front row seat to watch a group of home-grown, unknown players develop into World Series Champions. During the All Star Game in New York, Jackie Autry continued her role as honorary American League President and introduced the AL Team Manager, Jim Leyland. Once again, she was at the heart of one of baseball’s biggest events of the season. None of this was ever her intention. In fact, the former Security Pacific Bank Vice President was actually more of a football fan when she met Angels owner, Gene Autry. But when you marry a man you adopt his family, and Gene Autry’s family was always the Angels. “We were all like a big family back then,” she said. “From the front office to the bat boys. We had get-togethers and picnics. It would be hard to do that today.” The Angels meant more to Gene Autry than just another business. Autry, who had no children of his own, saw the players as sons. “He loved the Angels,” Jackie Autry said. “but if you told Gene you loved another team that was OK too, as long as you were a baseball fan. He thought that baseball was a family game and he wanted it to stay that way forever,” The game was already changing when Jackie and Gene Autry married on July 19th, 1981. The Angels and the Dodgers were the only family owned teams at the time. Salaries began to rise and expenses increased. In baseball, the old way of doing business began to make no business sense at all. In 1982, after a successful season and a trip to the playoffs, Jackie Autry looked at the financial statement and was surprised to see that team barely made a profit. “Clubs were losing money back then,” she said. “even when salaries were lower.” Jackie Autry started working with the Angels in 1983, using her prior business experience in marketing and budgeting. In her former career at Security Pacific, Autry worked her way up from a switchboard operator to become the 13th female Vice President in company history. She brought this same focused work ethic with her to the Angels Front Office. She soon learned that a professional sports franchise doesn’t run with the fiscal discipline of a bank. “I would try to start with a two million dollar bottom line and work backwards,” she said. “But with free agents on the market and a team in the hunt for the playoffs, that two million went pretty quickly.” Jackie Autry tried to hold a responsible bottom line, looking at the team as a businesswoman, not only as a baseball fan. Near the end of her husband’s life, she worked hard to preserve the team that he dearly loved. She became active in Major League Baseball and is the only woman to ever serve on the Major League Baseball Executive Council, Oversight Committee, and as a member of the Board of Directors. “In Major League Baseball, I always voted for the good of the game,” Autry said. “I looked at the Big Picture, even when if it didn’t directly benefit The Angels.” It was this “big picture thinking” that finally convinced Jackie Autry that a change in ownership was inevitable. Years of losses and mounting debt led her to negotiate a sale to the Walt Disney Company. Disney purchased controlling rights in 1996. Even though Jackie Autry sold the team, she never lost faith in the Angels. “I told Michael Eisner to stand pat and stick with the young players,” she said. “They’ll win you a World Series. In 2002, all players came from our farm system except for three. These were home-grown kids who won a World Championship.” Her critics may have disagreed with her decisions to avoid high-contract players, but Autry believed that the best course was to develop franchise players from within the organization. “It’s not about pinching pennies, it’s about building a foundation,” she said. “You cannot buy a World Championship Club.” These days, the business of baseball is very different from the time when Gene Autry owned the team, and she admits that the multi-million dollar player contracts and blockbuster media deals have been game changers. “If Gene Autry were alive today, he’d have a heart attack,” she said. There are some things that are still familiar to Jackie Autry. She never misses watching a game, either from her box at Angels Stadium or from her home in the Coachella Valley. Now, freed from her financial responsibilities with the team, she can follow the Angels like her husband always did, as a devoted fan. What would Gene Autry think of today’s Angels? “Oh he would have loved to watch the young guys play, like Mike Trout and Mark Trumbo,” she said. “He would have loved their hustle.” Now in semi-retirement, Jackie handles investment portfolios, continues to attend Angels baseball games and enjoys traveling. She has a home in Palm Springs, California and also in Studio City, California. View the full article

Angels pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report to spring training on Feb. 13. As we count down the days until camp begins, we are going through the various position groups to give a breakdown of where the roster stands. Today, the bullpen. Previously: starting rotation, outfielders, infielders, catchers. 2023 RECAP The Angels have spent significant money on their bullpen in recent years – giving out multiyear deals to free agents Carlos Estévez, Ryan Tepera and Aaron Loup – and re-signing Raisel Iglesias to a four-year deal. It hasn’t worked very well and 2023 was another disappointing year for the bullpen, which ranked 26th in the majors with a 4.88 ERA. Tepera was released and Loup struggled for most of a second straight season. Estévez was very good for two-thirds of his first season as a closer, making the All-Star team, but he finished with two bad months. Matt Moore, who signed a one-year deal at the start of camp last year, was consistently good, although he missed two months with an injury and was then waived in a cost-cutting move for the final month. Perhaps the best signs for the bullpen in 2023 were the performances of José Soriano and Ben Joyce. The two rookies showed elite stuff in limited innings, although there is clearly room for improvement going forward. HOW IT LOOKS RIGHT NOW No part of the team has undergone more of a facelift than the bullpen. Estévez returns, but he’ll have some competition to hold down the closer job all year. The Angels signed right-hander Robert Stephenson to a three-year, $33 million deal after he dominated in the second half last season with the Tampa Bay Rays. Stephenson had a 2.35 ERA with 60 strikeouts in 38⅓ innings with the Tampa Bay Rays. The Angels brought back Moore on a $9 million deal. The Angels also signed free right-hander Luis Garcia, a flame-throwing veteran who had a 3.62 ERA over his last three seasons. Estévez, Garcia, Soriano and Joyce all throw fastballs in the upper 90s. The Angels also signed sidearming right-hander Adam Cimber, who has a 3.15 ERA over the last three years. His 2023 season was spoiled by three outings right before he went on the injured list for the final three months. Right-hander Jose Cisnero, who signed a one-year deal over the weekend, has a career 3.99 ERA, even though he had a 5.31 mark last season. The Angels also added left-hander Adam Kolarek, who has held lefties to a .184 batting average in parts of seven major league seasons. Right-hander Zach Plesac, who has mostly been a starter in his career, also could find himself in the bullpen. Related Articles Los Angeles Angels | Angels, reliever José Cisnero agree to 1-year contract Los Angeles Angels | Angels, reliever José Cisnero agree to 1-year contract Los Angeles Angels | Angels 2024 spring training position preview: Starting rotation Los Angeles Angels | Alexander: The State of SoCal Sports, 2024 … Sports Capital of the World? Los Angeles Angels | Angels, outfielder Aaron Hicks agree to 1-year deal THE NEXT LAYER All the newcomers have pushed several pitchers who had worked significant innings down the list, perhaps to Triple-A. Right-handers Andrew Wantz and Jimmy Herget can be optioned this season, so don’t be surprised if they make repeated trips between the Angels and Salt Lake. If right-hander Sam Bachman doesn’t fit as a starter, in Triple-A or the majors, the Angels could use him in the major league bullpen. Right-hander Austin Warren and left-hander José Quijada both underwent Tommy John surgery last year and could be ready later in the season. MOVE THEY COULD MAKE The Angels really don’t have much room to add anyone else at this point, unless someone is willing to move a pitcher with options. Meanwhile, the Angels still have left-hander Jose Suarez, who is out of options and without much of a role in the rotation or bullpen. Although Suarez pitched poorly last season, he was hurt for most of the year. He was good in 2021 and 2022, and he’s still only 26, so it’s likely that another team would be willing to give him a shot. The Angels could see if they can trade Suarez for someone who gives them more depth elsewhere. View the full article